Evaluation of the exothermicity of free radical photopolymerization through a RT-FTIR and PhotoDSC study

Abstract

The exothermic reaction of free radical photopolymerization can affect the curlng speed Of photocurable resins. This effect was investigated for three different acrylic monomers With increaslng functionality. The maximum rates of polymerization and the conversion degrees were analyzed by real time FTIR (RT-FTIR) spectroscopy and photo Differential Scanning Calorimetry (PhotoDSC). For the RT-FTIR experiments, the change in temperature was monitored by following the absorption of a specific band of a polypropylene film which is dependent on the temperature. PhotoDSC experiments were carried out at different temperatures in order to study their effect on the resulting polymer. © 2010 CPST.